Multiple switch



1950 J. M TYRNER 2,514,913

MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed May 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE SWITCH Joseph M. Tyrner, New York, N. Y., assignor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,322

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to improvements in multiple switches, the principal object of the invention being to provide switch mechanism consisting of parts so constructed and arranged that a single switch operating device may be employed for closing and opening any desired number of switch contacts.

My improved switch mechanism may be characterized as a multiple switch assembly comprising any desired number of standardized units, each unit comprising a support for a pair of electrical contacts, a movable bridge contact member for bridging each pair of contacts, and a bridge support for each bridge member. Any desired number of such units may be assembled in superimposed relation so that the several bridge members may be operated simultaneously by a common operating device such as the solenoid and plunger or armature ordinarily employed for the purpose of operating an electromagnetic switch.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the switch actuating means such that each bridge member is moved into bridging engagement or contact with a corresponding pair of stationary contacts, the bridge member being held in yielding engagement with these contacts to assure firm contact regardless of irregularities in the contact surfaces.

Another objectof this invention is to provide means for moving the bridge members positively to open circuit position, each bridge member being mounted between a pair of bridge supports in such a manner that positive movement of each bridge member is assured, not only when the bridge members are moved to closed circuit position, but also when the switch actuating means moves toward the open circuit position.

A typical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section view of a multiple switch made in accordance with my invention, this section view being taken on line l-! of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showin the switch mechanism of Fig. 1 with the switch contacts in closed circuit position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the multiple switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section view taken on line 1-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a development, on a reduced scale, of a contact element forming a part of the mechanism of Figs. 1-8, inclusive;

Fig. 10 is a development, on a reduced scale, of another form of contact element employed in the apparatus of Figs. 1-8, inclusive; and

Fig. 11 is a development, on a reduced scale, of still another form of contact member forming a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1-8, inelusive.

In the typical embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the multiple switch mechanism comprises several pairs of stationary electrical contacts I, la, lc, etc., each pair of stationary contacts being carried by a contact support 2, 2a, 20 and 2d, made of any suitable insulating material. Each contact support, for example, the contact support shown at 2, may include a main contact supporting plate 3 having a central opening 4, and a separate spacer disk 5 provided with a pair of terminal sockets 6 for receiving terminal fixtures (hereinafter described in detail) for connecting each of the stationary contacts to the external electric circuit leads.

A separate bridge member shown at l, and M is provided for each pair of contacts l, id and lo. These bridge members are metal bars or strips carrying contacts 8 at their extremities adapted to engage the stationary contacts carried by the stationary contact supports 2, 2a and 20.

Each bridge member is provided with what may be called a bridge support 9 comprising a body of insulating material lo having an annular recess therein and a coil spring ll mounted in the recess of the member it and engaging the lower surface of the adjacent bridge member I, and it will be noted that each bridge member is mounted between the bridge support engaging the lower surface thereof and the bottom of the bridge support directly above the bridge member.

The several stationary contact supports 2, 2a, 20 and 2d are mounted in superimposed relation and it will be understood that any desired number of such contact supports can be arranged to form a stack of contact support members clamped together by any suitable detachable means such as the through bolts l2 and I3. A

corresponding number of bridge supports, mounted in the central openings in the several contact supports, are likewise arranged in superimposed relation and are firmly and non-yieldably secured together by a central bolt I4 having a nut IS in engagement with the bottom bridge support 9c. This central bolt I4 is secured to the armature I6 of an electromagnet having a coil shown at ill and a laminated field yoke I8. A bracket I9 is secured to the bottom of the stack of contact supports by means of the through bolts I2 and I3 and this bracket carries a coil spring 20 engaging a disk or washer 2| retained on the central bolt I4 by a nut 22.

ihe operation of the switch mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 1 showing the open circuit position of the several elements of the switch mechanism and Fig. 2 showing the closed circuit position. When current flows through the magnetizing coil I1 of the electromagnet, the armature I6 is attracted to draw the central bolt I4 upward and it will be understood that this movement of the central bolt lifts the several bridge supports 9-90 to move the several bridge members 'I--'lc into engagement with the several pairs of stationary contacts l-ic in a direction transverse the contacting surfaces of the stationary contacts. The parts are so constructed and arranged that the central actuating bolt l4 travels further than the several bridge members l-lc whereby the several bridge members are held in yielding engagement with the stationary contacts by the action of the coiled springs II. When the supply of current to the magnetizing coil I1 is interrupted, the spring 20 at the bottom of the switch mechanism causes the central actuating bolt I4 to move downward, this action being assisted by gravity if the swtlch mechanism is mounted in vertical position as illustrated in the drawings. If there is any tendency of the bridge member contacts 8 to stick to the stationary contacts I, such sticking of these elements is prevented by the positive action of the several bridge support elements, the bottom portions of which strike the upper surfaces of the bridge members and force these bridge members down until they occupy the position shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 9, and 11. I have illustrated on a reduced scale, developments of three different forms of stationary contacts I, la and I 0. These figures show these contact members in an intermediate stage of manufacture, i. e., before portions thereof are bent to the final shape which is best illustrated in Fig. 4, and before the threaded opening is formed in the contact piece 6 to accommodate a terminal set screw.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 9, it will be noted that the contact piece I has a portion 23 which forms the electrical contact proper, adapted to be engaged by the bridge member I. This contact piece also has integral sections 24, 25, 2B, 2? and 28 which may be bent successively, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9, to form a box-shaped terminal fixture as best shown in Fig. 4, the section 27 having a threaded opening formed therein to receive the terminal set screw 29. ihe sections 2d and 28 may be spot welded together as illustrated in Fig. 4. The contact piece Ia shown in Figs. 4 and 10, has a contact section 23' and a short extension 30 which may be spot welded to a rectangular terminal fixture 3i carrying a set screw 32. The contact piece to as illustrated in Figs. e and it has a ccntact sea:

(a tion 23" and integral sections 33 and 34, and the section 34 may be bent at an angle to the contact section 23" so as to project into a rectangular terminal fixture 35 carrying set screw 36, the construction and arrangement being such that when the set screw 36 is tightened, the section 34 of the contact piece Ic is clamped against the base of the terminal fixture 35. It will be understood that the three set screws 29, 32 and 36 serve to connect the stationary contacts of the switch mechanism with the external lead wires (not illustrated).

It will be understood from the foregoing description that, as indicated by the broken lines in Figs. 1 and 2, any desired number of stationary contact supports, bridge members and bridge supports may be employed, these elements being arranged in superimposed relation. Thus, the number of circuit connections controlled by the switch mechanism may be readily increased by detaching or disconnecting the bolts I2, I3 and the central actuating bolt 84 and then adding additional contact supports, bridge members and bridge supports. In making such change, it is merely necessary to employ longer through bolts l2 and i3 and a longer central actuating bolt it, to accommodate the larger number of contact supports and bridge supports.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprisin a stack of contact supports, detachable means for clamping said supports together in superimposed relation whereby any desired number of contact supports may be clamped together, a pair of stationary contacts carried by each support, a separate bridge member for interconnecting the contacts of each pair, and a common actuating member for the several bridge members whereby all bridge members may be moved simultaneously toward the said pairs of contacts, said actuating member comprising a stack of bridge supports and detachable means for clamping said bridge supports together whereby any desired number of bridge supports may be clamped together, said bridge supports each comprisin spring means for engaging a bridge member, and an abutment for engaging with another bridge member, whereby each bridge member is supported between the abutment of one bridge support and the spring member of another bridge support.

2. An electric switch comprising a stack of contact supports, detachable means for clamping said supports together in superimposed relation whereby any desired number of contact supports may be clamped together, a pair of stationary contacts carried by each support, a separate bridge member for interconnectin the contacts of each pair, and an actuating member for simultaneously moving the several bridge members said actuating member comprising a plurality of superimposed bridge supports each having an annular recess therein, a coiled spring mounted in the recess of each bridge support for engaging a bridge member, and detachable means for clamping the several bridge supports together whereby any desired number of bridge supports may be clamped in superimposed relation.

JOSEPH M. TYRNER.

(Reterences on following page) 11,014,912 5 REFERENCES CITED Number The tollowlng references are of record in the 3: file of this patent: g-g 'ggg UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2:344:65 Number Name Date 2,451,224

906,056 McGary Dec. 8, 1908 960,450 Van VaJkenburg June 7, 1910 983,976 Carpenter Feb. 14, 1911 Number 1,965,125 Ketay July 3, 1984 10 511. 61

Name Date Parsons Aug. 4, 1936 Unwln Jan. 25, 1938 Glenn May 18, 1943 Stong Mar. 21, 1944 Johnson Oct. 12, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Sept. 17, 1920 

